Chapter 211


    When Rhett came home, Kristin had already prepared dinner.


    She was wearing an apron, her hair tied back in a simple ponytail.


    cing the food on the table, Kristin smiled at Rhett as he walked in with Summer in his arms. “Wash


    up, it’s time to eat.”


    Rhett paused for a moment, then set Summer down.


    Kristin was right there, embodying his every fantasy of home.


    Due to the indifference in his parents‘ marriage, Rhett had always been resistant to the idea of settling


    down and starting a family.


    But now… he felt a warmth inside him.


    Like he had been flying solo for ages and had finally found his way back to the nest.


    “Mom,” Summer said, his little hands washed and neatly ced on hisp at the dinner table. “Milo


    didn’t go to school today.”


    Kristin was surprised, her gaze shifting to Rhett. “Milo wasn’t at school?”


    Rhett nodded, not looking to pry. Maybe Milo was sick?


    Kristin didn’t press further. Considering Eve’s affection for her son, there wasn’t too much to worry


    about.


    “I’ve made mushroom soup and ribs,” Kristin whispered, waiting for Rhett to bring up thepany


    issues


    on his own.


    But Rhett remained silent.


    Kristin felt distracted, a sense of restlessness in her heart.


    “My mom caused a scene at thepany, and the police took her away?” Kristin broached the subject


    tentatively.


    “Yeah, Garner called the cops,” Rhett said, his survival instincts kicking in, given Madge’s sensitive


    status. After all, Madge was Kristin’s mother.


    “Hopefully, she’ll learn her lesson this time,” Kristin murmured, aware she had caused Ri.


    trouble.


    ot of


    “Some people will do anything for money, for their own benefit, but between mother and daughter, even


    if there’s no twenty years of nurturing, is there no basic humanity left?” Rhett wasn’t berating Madge,


    just voicing his doubts.


    Without his protection, if Garner hadn’t dealt with the situation promptly, the damage Madge and her


    rtives could have caused thepany would have been Kristin’s cross to bear.


    Hob had been looking for a chance to push Kristin away from him, using every tactic to force an


    end to their marriage and align with the Haywood family.


    “Maybe… it’s my fault,” Kristin said, her head bowed, a habit formed over years of self–me.


    Whether it was Madge or Mamie, thedy who had cherished her for twenty–one years, they all


    despised


    her.


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    Chapter 211


    “Is it possible that it’s not your fault?” Rhett took Kristin’s hand. “I suggest you take a paternity test with


    Madge. She doesn’t seem to take after you. Let’s hold off on any conclusions until the test resultse


    in.”


    Kristin stared at Rhett, bewildered. “You… you are saying I’m not her daughter?”


    “Have you never doubted it?” Rhett looked back at Kristin.


    She was so intelligent; couldn’t she entertain the possibility, at least until the results were in?


    Kristin bowed her head, gripping her hands tightly. “I’ve doubted it, and I’ve suggested a paternity test


    with Madge, but back then she didn’t care. They only cared whether Ruby Collins was their child, not


    whether 1 was really Madge’s daughter.”


    After a long silence, Kristin spoke again. “Actually, I have my fears, I’m afraid that if I’m not Madge’s


    daughter, then I really have nowhere to belong. No home, no brother, no family…”


    Rhett’s gaze deepened as he looked at Kristin.


    He remembered when he first saw her at the hotel, bloodied, emerging from a private room, her


    foreheadcerated by broken ss, her appearance disheveled but her plea for help firm.


    Back then, Rhett couldn’t understand why Kristin wouldn’t fight back, why she would protect those


    people even in front of the police.


    Maybe he understood now…


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    Because of his family and upbringing, Rhett’s first instinct when faced with a problem was to resolve it


    quickly and effectively, confident in his ability to control the situation.


    But Kristin couldn’t.


    She would consider countless oues to a problem, each one unbearable, so she became more and


    more self–deprecating, more and more humble.


    “Summer,” Rhett nced at the little boy, signaling with his eyes.


    Summer ran to the living room with glee, fetching the flowers Rhett had prepared earlier from behind


    his back. “Mommy, these flowers are for you.”


    It was a bouquet of vibrant red roses, the petals lush and inviting.


    Kristin’s eyes widened at the sight, her mouth opening and closing without a wording out


    “Kristin,” Rhett said, his eyes burning with intent. “Now, you have a home, someone to shelter you from


    the storm. Don’t think too much, don’t worry. I’ll take on the waves ahead, and you just bloom,”


    Rhett wanted to see his white rose reborn, to see just how resplendent her bloom could be.


    He wanted Kristin to have support, to bloom freely and brilliantly.


    Without the burden of worry, just to blossom.


    Kristin held the flowers, tears welling up, and after a moment she found her voice. “Rhett, will you


    protect me forever?”


    “The contract is null and void, effective immediately. There’s no prenup, and the divorce will only


    happen if


    Rhett dered earnestly.


    you want it to..


    Kristin was momentarily stunned. Rhett wasn’t the type for grand romantic gestures, yet this ordinary


    Chapter 211


    dinner seemed to unleash his deepest passions.


    Kristin looked at Rhett in disbelief, her tears spinning. “You mean it?”


    “I do,” Rhett affirmed, and in that moment, amidst the simplicity of their domestic life, love bloomed,


    unspoken but understood, as they sat down to enjoy their meal together.


    “I know you can’t fully trust me yet. How about we take it slow?” Rhett said, tearing up the so–called


    prenup


    in front of Kristin. He then extended his hand and asked her, “What about yours?”


    Kristin was totally bbergasted. Was Rhett actually being serious?


    “Come with me to the registry office tomorrow,” Rhett spoke again.


    Kristin quickly nodded. “Of course, Mr. FitzGerald.”


    “Hmm?” Rhett squinted his eyes.


    “Of course…” Kristin bit her lip.


    “And what should you call me?” Rhett challenged.


    Kristin looked down, her ears turning red, not managing to say it out loud.


    “Honey!” Summer shouted, even the little boy knew that spouses called each other ‘honey!’


    Summer covered his mouth, snickering, and went back to his meal.


    Kristin was so flustered she could barely hold her flower steady. “Who… who taught you to say that?”


    Summer tilted his head yfully. “But that’s what they say on TV shows. Mom calls Dad ‘honey.”


    Kristin was a bundle of nerves. “You… you should watch less TV.”


    Rhett’s lips curved into a smile as he propped his head up, watching Kristin. “Let’s hear it then? There


    might be a reward.”


    Kristin abruptly stood up and escaped to the kitchen to look for a vase for the flower.


    She really, really liked it.


    Holding the bouquet, Kristin gazed at it for a long while, her focus drifting. She used to di mboyance


    of red roses, always preferring the modest and peaceful white roses.


    She didn’t know when it started, but she had fallen in love with red roses.


    Rhett once said, she should bloom to her heart’s content.


    Her season had long passed, what kind of flower could she possibly bloom into now…